Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif believes Virat Kohli played a key role in Rajat Patidar’s appointment as Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain for IPL 2025. Patidar, along with Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal, were retained by the franchise ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction.
As RCB could not rope in players like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer in the auction, it was reported that Virat Kohli might once again take back the captaincy baton after Faf du Plessis was not retained by the franchise.
This will be the first time when Patidar will lead the franchise in the IPL and he has been performing consistently for RCB in the last couple of season. The right-hander also led Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024.
Kohli has been observing Patidar’s growth from close quarters and Kaif reckons the veteran played a key role in suggesting his name to the team’s management for the leadership role.
Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “I was a little surprised. I thought Virat Kohli would lead RCB, given they did not retain Faf du Plessis. I thought Kohli was effectively running RCB. Even if he is not the captain of the side, it is his job to tell the management to buy certain players and back them. So, if Patidar has become captain, Virat Kohli is behind it.”
“That franchise has not won a single trophy in 18 years, but Kohli is still with them. That’s how much RCB respect him; that’s how much RCB value Virat’s brand.”
On the other hand, Kaif added that Kohli would have wanted to focus on his batting and thus he didn’t take leadership onus.
“If Kohli did not become the captain and Rajat Patidar did, then certainly he is behind that. Kohli is 37; he must have wanted to focus on his batting and wanted a young player to lead the side, keeping the franchise’s future in mind. But it will be difficult for Patidar,” said Kaif.
RCB will begin their IPL campaign against defending champions KKR on March 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
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